Clyde Prestowitz: The conservative case for Kerry (K/E blog)

[neomonkey]

http://blog.johnkerry.com/blog/archives/003498.html

The line of lifelong Republicans who have decided to vote for John Kerry keeps getting longer. The latest new Kerry voter is Clyde Prestowitz, who was counselor to the secretary of commerce in the Reagan administration. Here is his explanation of why conservatives should vote for John Kerry.


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"The conservative case for Kerry "
Clyde Prestowitz
Washington, DC

As a former Reagan-administration official, registered Republican, born-again Christian, and traditional conservative, I am going to vote for John Kerry. So are many other old-line Republicans. Here's why.

While the Bush administration calls itself "conservative," its use of the term is frankly Orwellian. It not only deprives the word of meaning, but also presents the administration's philosophy as the opposite of what it actually is.

Conservatives have always believed in fiscal responsibility: in being sure you could pay your way and in providing for the future. Conservatives pay down debt, rather than adding to it. This doesn't necessarily mean balancing the budget every year, but at a minimum it means striving toward balance as a top priority.

The Bush approach is completely at odds with such thinking. If any proof were needed, it was amply provided in the president's acceptance speech at the Republican National Convention. With Congressional Budget Office projections showing oceans of red ink for the indefinite future, President Bush promised more tax cuts. His audience cheered.